Machine for making preforms



ct. 16, 1945., F. s. REGQkY, JR 2336391 v MACH INE FOR MAKING PREFORMS Filed Jan. 2, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1945. 5, E JR 2,386,891

MACHINE FOR MAKING PREFORMS Filed Jan. 2, 1943' j 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. s. GREGORY, ,JR 2,386,891

MACHINE FOR MAKING PREFORMS Oct. 16, 1945.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fil ed Jan. 2, 1943 1945- F. s. GREGORY, JR 2,386,891

MACHINE FOR MAKING PREFORMS I Filed Jan. '2, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 16, 1945.

F. s. GREGORY. 4R

MACHINE FOR MAKING PREFORMS Filed Jan; 2, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 //v vE/v m Patented Oct. 16, 1945 2.386.891 momma son MAKING rnsroams S. Gregory, Jr., Arlington, Mesa, assignor I B. B. Chemical 00., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 2, 1543, Serial No. 471,106

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making from a finely divided, bulky molding compound a lightly compacted preform which is similar in shape to but somewhat larger than the desired finished article; and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for making such a preform, which is later to become a heel.

In th manufacture of articles such as heels which will receive and hold nails without being split or cracked, there is first made an intermediate article or preform. This preform is molded from a finely divided, bulky molding compound comprising a large proportion, commonly 85%, of a finely divided fibrous material such as wood flour and a comparatively small proportion, commonly about of a finely divided thermosetting resin. The mold used in making the preform is heated-to a moderate temperature, for example in the neighborhood of 200 F'.; and the pressure, which may be about 1 ton perfsquare inch, is applied for a short interval, which may be a few seconds. The resin is thus softened but not cured; and the preform expands somewhat after being removed from the mold, being then similar in shape to but somewhat larger than the mold in which it was formed. The lightly compacted, bibulous preform thus produced may be coated with substances which will give the finished arpacted, bibulous, oversize preform, such as that which has been briefly described above, is not claimed herein but forms the-subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,330,233, granted September 28, 1943, upon an application in the name of Thomas C. Morris.

According to the present invention there is provided a molding machine having improved means for feeding a measured charge of molding compound into the mold. The illustrated machine, which is specially adapted to make from a bulky molding compound a lightly compacted, oversize preform, comprises a mold, a cooperating reciprocating plunger, a swinging chute for feeding molding compound into the mold and means operated by the movement of reciprocation for delivering a. measured charge of molding compound to the chute.

This and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be set forth as embodied in an illustrated machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the right-hand portion of a machine, including a press and mechanism for feeding measured amounts of molding compound to it, in which the present invention is, embodied. In this figure there is shown the press and that part of the feeding mechanism which is located at the right of a vertical plane indicated by the broken line A-A, the remainder of the machine, which is located at the left of said vertical plane, being shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 1A is a detail in elevation showing more particularly the mounting of the upper end of the long swinging arm;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the machine on the line A--A of Fig. I viewed from the left, the section being taken through the chain, so that, aside from the chain, Fig. 2 is'an end elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical section and upon an enlarged scale showing more particularly the knockout. pin and the dashpot for cushioning the descent of the pin;

Fig. 4 is a detail principally in vertical section and on an enlarged scale showing the positions of certain parts after a measured charge of molding compound has been delivered to the mold by the swinging chute, the plunger having begun to descend and the chute having begun to swing to the left away from the'mouth of the mold;

Fig. 5 shows the same parts in the positions which they occupy'when the plunger has descended to compress the charge of molding compound and the chute has been swung to its extreme left-hand position;

Fig. 6 is a view of the same parts in the positions which they occupy when the plunger has been raised to its extreme upper position, the intermediate article or preform having been pushed up out of the mold, and the chute being in process of swinging to the right to eject the preform from the machine. In this figure the vertical section has ben taken in a plane somewhat nearer to the observer than in Figs. 4 and 5 to show the link which at proper times opens the hinged bottom of the hopper;

Fig. 'l is a view on a scale somewhat larger than that of Figs. 1 and 2 looking down upon the mold, a part of the frame of the press and the lower portion of the swinging chute being shown;

Fig. 8 is an elevationvof the box in which is located the drum for holding a supply of molding compound and the measuring slide to which the drum delivers molding compound, a part of one wall of the box having been broken away to show in vertical section the measurins slide and the generally funnel-shaped. hollow member through which molding compound may be poured into one end of the drum; and I Fig. 9 is a view principally in section showin more particularly the vanes on the interior of the drum and how they deliver molding compound to the measuring slide.

Before describing the machine in detail a. general description of its mode of operation will be given. The machine comprises a press and certain mechanism for delivering molding compound to the mold of the press (Fig. l) and mechanism (Fig. 8) for feeding measured charges of molding compoundto the mechanism which delivers the molding compound to the mold. Referring to Fig. 4, the press includes a platen l above which is located a reciprocable ram comprising a.

plate l2 and a stem l3. A plunger II is fastened to the ram, and upon the platen is fastened a'mold member. As herein shown, this member comprises a jacket l1, passageways it through which a heating medium such as steam is forced, a base plate II, and a mold proper which consists of an upper part 2| and a lower part 23, the mold cavity lying below the level indicated by the line The jacket I! with the mold parts 2|, 23 and the base plate II are bolted together. The mold has a long throat above the cavity, said long throat being necessitated by the nature of the molding compound which, as has been stated above, is bulky. The ram of the press, and consequently the plunger i5, is reciprocated c ntinuously in such manner that there is a short dwell every time the plunger reaches its lowermost position. A swinging chute 21, which normally occupies its extreme right-hand position when the plunger is at the top of its stroke and the preform has been ejected, receives measured charges of molding compound 100 from a hopper 29 and delivers it into the mold.

In Fig. 4 the chute has delivered such a charge, which has filled the mold, and. is swinging to the left, while the plunger is descending. As the plunger descends, a charge of molding compound is delivered to the hopper 29 but remains in said hopper until the plunger has completed its downward stroke and is at the top of its upward stroke. The downward stroke has been completed in the position of parts shown in Fig. 5; and it will be noted that a-succeeding charge of molding com pound has been delivered to the hopper 29 and is sun being held there owing to the fact that. a

hinged member 3| with upstanding side walls forms the bottom of the hopper and is in closed position. During the rise of the plunger, after it has compressed a charge of molding compound into the form of the mold cavity, as shown at 200,

a knockout pin 33, the upper end of which extends into the molded preform 200, rises and pushes the preform out of the top of the mold. The pin then starts to descend, as shown in Fig.

' 6. In the meantime, the chute 2'! has been swinging to the right under the influence of a torsion spring which will be described later. 'In the position of parts shown in Fig. 6, the projecting beveled end of a small plate 34, fastened by screws to a cam which is rigid with the chute 21, has slid that is, when the chute swings quickly to elect the preform, the hinged bottom 31 of the hopper 29 is swung down to permit the measured charge of molding compound Hill in the hopper 29 to flow down the chute 21 into the mold. The plunger then starts down for the next stroke, and the parts presently pass once more through the positions shown in Fig. 4. The construction is such that all the movements which have been described above are derived from the reciprocating movement of the ram.

The press (Figs. 1 and 2) comprises a frame 33 having the platen 10 upon which the base plate l3 of the mold rests and to which it is fastened by two oppositely located bolts and nuts 4 I One of these .bolts passes through open-ended slots in alined ears formed respectively on the platen and on the base plate (Fig. l). The other bolt (Fig. 2) clamps the other end of the base plate to the platen. The mold is heated by steam which enters through an inlet pipe 43 and leaves through an outlet pipe 45. The plunger, best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, which has .a concavely curved face 41 to correspond to the concavely curved face of the opening in the mold, is fast to the rain. of the press.

Since the details of construction of the press itself form no part of the present invention, only a general description of its mode of operation will be given. The ram (Figs. 1 and 2) is reciprocated by oil under pressure which is forced alternately into the top and the bottom of an upright cylinder 5| and thereby causes successive reciprocations of the ram and with it, of course, of the plunger, these reciprocations including a short dwell of the plunger at the bottom of its stroke so as to hold the preform under compression for a short interval. The location of the path of the plunger, that is, its extreme upper and lower positions, may be varied by varying the positions of two spaced stops which arevertically adjustable in an upright guideway 53, and may be locked in adjusted position by turning knobs 55, 51. The guideway 53 is fast to and reciprocates with the ram and plunger. The length of the dwell may be varied and is controlled by a Flexopulse," a commercial apparatus, the dial and pointers of which are shown at 59. Assuming that a switch, not shown, has been turned to start the motor 60 (Fig. 2), the function of which is to pump the oil which causes reciprocation of the ram, the operation of the press is started by turning a switch. also not shown, in the Fiexopulse apparatus, whereupon the operation of the press is continuous, the ram reciprocating and dwelling for an interval at the bottom of its stroke. Since it is desirable at times to operate the press slowly, for example in order to facilitate locating the stops which are held in adjusted position by the knobs 55, 51, a treadle BI is provided. Pushing the treadle down causes the ram to descend; and releasing it causes the ram to rise. As has been stated, however, the press ordinarily runs continuously. No further description of the construction and the mode of operation of the press will be given since, as has been stated, the details of its construction form no part of the present invention.

The machine of the present invention comprises a press, such, for example, as that briefly described above, fltted with a mold and a reciprocating, cooperating plunger, means for feeding measured charges of molding compound to the mold, means for removing from the top of the mold before the plunger has completed its descen any of the powdered or granulated molding compound which may have been spilled or scattered there, means for pushing the molded prefornrout of the mold, and means for electing the molded preform from the machine, the operation of all these means being derived fronr'or controlled by the movements of reciprocation of the plunger.

Referring to Fig. 1, it has been explained that measured charges of molding compound are delivered from a supply into the hopper 20- and.

I flow at the proper times from the hopper. into cylinder SI. The left-hand end of the chain (Fig. 8) is fast to the forward end of a small measuring slide 35 which is slidable horizontally in a guide member 01, the forward end of said guide member being fastened by screw'bolts II to the forward wall of a box II, there being in said wall a rectangular opening in line with the measuring slide. The slide has no top or bottom, the lower wall of the guide 01 closing the opening in the bottom when the slide is in the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position it is loaded through its open top by meansof a rotating drum I3 which contains a quantity of molding compound and is furnished on its interior cylindrical wall with a series of inwardly pro- ,iecting vanes lb. The box II, in which the drum vI3 is rotatably mounted, is supported on a stand duction gear I03 from a small motor I03. In .order to permit molding compound to be poured into the drum, a stationary hollow filling member I has its lower end bent and extending into the interior of the left-hand trunnion 03. A combined heater and fan -I 01 is provided in the box to keep the temperature at about 140 F.

The molding compound, as will be explained later, receives a preliminary heat fore it is poured into the drum. 1

Returning now to Fig. 2, the plate I2 of the treatment beram, is an elongated one which extends outwardly on both sides ofv the ram and has fastened to its outer ends by nuts III the upper ends of two vertical rods III. These rods reciprocate with the plunger and serve, through mechanism later to be described, to lift the knockout pin 33, which pushes the molded preform out of the mold, and then to allow the pin to descend by gravity.

Referring. to Figs. .1, 2 and 6, the swinging chute 2! is rigidly fastened by four straps H3,

' two of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 8, to a swinging memberconslsting of a long arm III which is forked (Fig. 2) at its lower end and has fastened between the branches of the fork a cam H9. The long arm I" has at its upper end a right-angled bend, the extreme outer end of 11 at the left of the machine, asyiewed in Fig.

1, so that, when the plunger of the machine descends and pulls the chain 63 to the right, the slide 65 is pulled to the, right and a measured charge of molding compound is delivered into the hopper 29, as shown in Fig. 5.

Returning now to Fig. 8, the forward end of a small rod 19 is threaded through the rear wall 4 of the measuring slide, its front end beingattached to the vertical portion of an L-shaped member 0| in such manner that the rod may be rotated but is held from longitudinal movement with respect to the L-shaped member. Consequently, by rotating this rod the L-shaped member may be adjusted to the right or the left to .vary. the capacity of the measuring slide 85. This rod I8 extends to the left through a bearing in which it is slidable, projects from the left-hand end of the box II and has fastened to its outer end a hand-hold 83 by which it may be turned. In order to exert at all times a pull on the rod 19 to.urge it to, the left, a plug.is held in the end of the rod in such manner that the rod may be rotated with respect to it, and to this plu is fastened one end of a chain 85. This chain runs over a sprocket 31 rotatably mounted at the end of a stationary arm 09, and has at its depending end a weight 0|. By this construction the reciprocation of the plunger I! causes the measuring slide to reciprocate horizontally so that it first receives a charge of molding compound and then delivers the charge to the hopper 23.

which is pivoted so'that the arm may swing toward a'ndfrom the cylinder 3|. To permit this swinging (Fig. 1A) two spaced upright standards I2I are fastened to the top of the cylinder 6|. Extending horizontally between the standards is a rod I23,'theright-hand portion of which is square in cross. section and the left-hand portion rounded. The round stems of screw bolts I25, which pass through alined bores in the standards and are threaded into the opposite ends of the rod I23, form bearings about which the rod may turn. A hub at the extremity of the bent portion of the long arm I" is rotatably mounted on the round portion ofthe rod I23. One end of a tor-' sion spring I21, which is wound about the rod, is fastened to the hub of the arm III; the other end of the spring being fastened to a ratchet wheel I20 which is rigid with the rod,- sald ratchet wheel being held from turning in one direction by a small pawl I30 pivoted to the right-hand standard I2I. Theratchet may be turned in the opposite direction to increase the tension of the torsion spring I21. The long arm 7, to which the chute 21 is fast, is guided in its swinging movements by a horizontally extending U-shaped guide I33 the base of which, as has been stated, is fast to the cylinder 3I,and the arms of which embrace the lower forked portion of the arm I",

as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 4, the plunger I5 has an enlarged upper end which is shouldered as shown. A comparatively thick plate I 3i has an opening in its center which is shouldered to receive the shouldered portion at the upper end ofthe plunger. This plate is fastened by screws I33 to a plate I35 which in turn is fastened to the plate I2 by cap screws I38. In the thick plate I3I is a passageway I40 through which steam is forced to heat the plunger. The flexible pipe through which steam is forced into the passageway I40 is shown at I42 in Fig. 2, the flexible outlet pipe not being shown. The alined left-hand edges of the plates I3I, I35, which are in effect the head of the plunger. form a vertical face with which the upper vertical face of the cam II9 contacts when the parts of the machine are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. When the plunger descends, it causes the cam II 0, which is fast to the lower end of the'long forked arm of the tension spring Ii'I,-toswingtotheleft in a manner determined by the irregularly curved face of the cam. it being remembered that the coiled torsion spring I21 (Fig. 1A) at the top of the long arm I" continually urges the arm and with it the chute 31 to swingto the right. As the plunger rises, the chute 21 swings back to the position shown in Fig. l.

The reciprocating movement of the plunger also causes opening and closing of the hinged'bottom 3| of the hopper 33 at the proper time. To I this endiFig. 6) the hinged bottom 3i is pivoted to the hopper 29 at I31. To a pivot on the outside of the upstanding wall of the hinged bottom,

which is remote from the observer, is attached the lower end of a tension spring I33, the-upper end of said spring being attached to a pin on the far side of the hopper 23., The hopper is fastened by screws. oneof which is shown at Ill (Fig. 6), and by straps, one of which is shown at I43 (Fig. 1), to the forward wall of the box II from which measured charges of molding compound are delivered to the hopper 29 by the measuring slide N; The tension spring I33 (Fig. 6) tends always to urge the hinged bottom 3I into closed position and to hold it closed. In order to swing this bottom to open position at the proper times and then to allow the spring I33 to close it again, a pin lliis carried by one of the upstanding walls of the hinged bottom, said pin being in allnement with the pin to which the lower end of the tension spring I35 is fast; andon this pin I" is pivoted one end of a link I", the other end of which is provided with an elongated slot I to receive a' pin Ill.

side of-a disk I53 on the far side of the arm III,

This pin projects from far said disk having a stem which passes through a a hole in the arm and has threaded on its end a nut I to hold it in any adjusted angular position. The axis of the pin I31, about which the hinged bottom 3i swings, and the common axis of the alined pins, to

I3! is fastened and about I46 the link I" is pivoted, are and closing of the the other of which so located that the o ening hinged bottom 3| is rapid. parts shown in Fig. 1, in which the plunger is at the top of its stroke and the swinging chute 21 has just elected a molded preform from the machine, the hinged bottom 3| has been swpng down to open position and the mold has been filled with a charge of molding compound. In Fig. 6, which shows the positions of the parts just prior to the position shown in Fig. l, the plunger, as in Fig. 1, is at the top of its stroke; but the swin in chute 21 is being held from further movement to the right by the upper end of the knockout pin 33. The hinged bottom 3| is still closed, but the righthand end of the slot in the link Ill are in engagement with the III whichisbeingursed toswing totherishtby the coiled spring I31 (Flg.,1A). Consequently the moment the knockout pin 33 descends far enough, the chute 21 and the long arm III with its cam III will swing tothe right until theupper vertical portion of the face of the cam contacts with the adjacent alined vertical faces of the plates I3I, I36. This movement will. cause the hinged bottom 3I of the hopper to swing down into the position shown in Fig- 1. g The knockout pin 33 islifted by the movement of the rods "3 at the-proper times and is then allowed to fall by gravity. The lower end of this knockout pin (Fig. 3) is fastened to a long horisontal bar I63 to which are fastened two short,

pin ISI carried by the long arm maddest spaced crossbars', one of which is'-'shown at I33. The ends of these crossbars'have a sliding fit in a vertical guideway formed in a member which is rigid with the frame of the machine-the walls of this guideway being indicated at I", andill. Also fast to the long'bar IE3 are two orossbsrs II! (Fig. 2) which are longer than the crossbai's Ill and extend across the vertical edges or the walls I", II! of the guideway. These two sets of crossbars I63, I63 are in effect guides-to insure that the knockout pin 33 shall rise and fall'id': a straight unvarying path. The upright rods III, which-reciprocate with the plunger, are vertically slidable in long bearings I6I which are rigid with the frame of the machine, As the rods' descend,

two latches I63, 363, carried respectively at'the shown in the position which it occupies just after it has started to descend. Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, since i e latches I63, 363 and their mountings are only one latch and its mounting will be: escribed in detail. V Referring to Fig. 3;the 133 is pivotally suspended from a pin I31 carried by a small block I39 which is fast to the loiver end of one of the rods H3, thepivot pin 1 31 being I received in a bore inthe upper end of the stem of the latch. The latch has a nose "I provided with a flat surface adapted, when the rodsj ii3 have descended far enough, to engage the under side-of one end of the bar I53. The other latch the other end of the 363 simultaneously engages II3 rise, the bar 133 bar so that, when the rods and with it the knockout pin a: will be lifted. he-- one of which the lower end e In the position of end on a stationary pin fe'rrlng again to the-latch I63, said latch carries a small stop pin I13 which, when it contacts with a flat surface formed by cutting away a part of the lower end of the rod 3,- limits theswinging of thelatch tothe right. This latch also a tail through the outer end of which and through theouter end of the tail of the other-latch 333, passes a small horizontal rod IIB held in place by nuts I13. The rod III is adapted to slideliilong the outer side of an obliquely estending gui' rod Il'l which is square in cross section. obliquely extending guide rod is pivoted at its; wet and extends up through an elongated slot in a rigidly held curved'r plate I19. A small hand-hold I3l, threaded upqmthe above; To the other latch and its associated parts (Fig. 2) have been applied the same reference-numerals increased by 260 as have been applied to the latch I63 and its associated parts.

Assuming that the parts of the machine are .in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the plunger I! and the rods H3 in their uppermost positions and the-long bar I53, by which knockoutpinfl is carried, in its lowermost posi-v of the bar. The small stop pins I13, 313 are at this time in contact with the flat faces of the lower end of rods I I 3. By the upward movement of the vertical rods I I3, the long bar I53 is lifted until the knockout pin 33 has pushed the molded preform out of the mold, whereupon the latches.

are disengaged from the bar, which is then permitted to descend by gravity. In order to cushion the descent of the comparatively heavy long bar I63. a. dashpot I86 is provided, the stem of the piston of which is pivoted to an ear on the under side of the bar. In order to avoid any possibility that the long bar I63 may sometime stick in 'a position part way down, there are atthe ends ofthe bar respectively screws I8I; and if by chance the long bar I53 happensto stick part way down, then on the next descent of the rods II3, the blocks I69, 369 at the lower ends of said rods will strike the tops of the screws and push the long bar I53 down. f

When the charge of molding compound runs down the swinging chute 21 and fills the mold, a

v small amount of molding. compound is liable to be scattered on the fiat top of the mold. In order to remove any compound which may lie on the fiat top of the mold, an air blast is provided for blowing it off, said air blast being rendered operative by the plunger in its descent. This air blast is indicated by the small arrows I89 (Fig. '7). The lets of air flow horizontally across the top of the mold from a horizontal row of perforations in .a horizontal pipe I9I. Referring to Fig. 1, compressed air enters a pipe I 93 from a ource of supply, fiows down, then to the left through a substantially horizontal pipe I95 and into a valve casing I91, having in it a valve provided with a pivoted handle I99. The valve is normally held closed by a small spring-pressed plunger which acts on the valve handle. Whenever this valve is opened, compressed air fiows from the valve casing through a pipe 20I to the horizontal pipe 9I and emerges in a series of small jets, as indicated in Fig. 7. When the plunger in its descent reaches a position in which the lower end of the phmger has entered the mold, the knob 65 engages the handle and opens the valve so as to blow off from the top of the mold any of the molding compound which may have been scattered there. Of course. when the plunger rises, the valve is opened again during said rlse; but thisopening of the valve with the resulting blast of air across the top of reason of the fact that the top of the guide 63 contacts with the bottom of the stem of the valve and pushes it up. When the valve is open, compr ssed air flows from the valve casing 201 ugh a flexible pipe 2 into the upper end of a rigid pipe 2|3 fastened to the under side ofv tiie'swinging chute 21. This pipe 2I3 (Flg. 7) is forked at its lower end; and from the ends of the two branches merge the two blasts of air indicated by the reference numerals 203,, 204.

Thus, when the parts of the machine are in the position shown in 6, with the plunger at the top of its stroke, the knockout pin 33 beginning its descent and the chute 2'! about to move to lower end of the pipe 2I'3 the right, the blasts of air from the forks at the are blowing against the molded preform.

In the making of preforms, the ingredients of the 'molding compound are mixed by being tumbled together instead of being around to gether as is commonly done. The bulky molding compoundis then given a preliminary heating by blowing through it heated humidified air, humidified air being used so as to prevent complete drying of the fibrous content of the compound and to maintain asmall moisture content of said fibrous material of, say, 4% or 5% by weight. A quantity of molding compound thus preheated is poured into the rotating drum 13, being maintained at a temperature of about 140 F. by the heater and fan I01 in the box H in which the drum is located.

Assuming that the mold has been filled and the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 4 with the plunger I5 descending and the chute 21 swinging to the left, there may be at this time some particles of molding compound scattered over the fiat top of the mold. when the plunger has descended far enough so that it is lower than and has entered the mold, the valve I99 (Fig. l) is opened for a moment, and a series of small jets of compressed air are blown across the top .of the mold. The plunger continues its descent to the position shown in Fig. 5 at which time the measuring slide 65 has been pulled out and has delivered a charge of molding compound into the hopper 29, the hinged bottom of which is still closed. At this time the latches I63, 363

- (Figs. 1 and 3) have engaged the underside of the long horizontal bar I53 and, when the plunger rises, the bar is lifted to cause the knockout pin to push the molded preform out of'the mold, as shown in. Fig. 6. In the position of parts there shown, the plunger has reached the top of its the mold is merely incidental and serves no usecasing has a downwardly projecting stem, the

valve being continually urged down into closed position-by a compression spring, not shown.

The valve is opened when the plunger I5 reaches its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, by chute 21 into the stroke, and the latches have released the long bar I53 which carries the knockout pin, and two blasts of air from the forked end of the pipe 2I3 are being directed against the rear side of the preform. The chute 21 cannot swing farther to the right since its small stripping plate 3'4 extends beneath the rear part of the preform into contact with the upper end of the descending knockout pin 33. The moment the knockout pin falls below the level of the projecting end of the plate 34, the chute swings to the right until the vertical face at the upper end of the cam I I9 strikes the alined adjacent edges of the plates I3 I, I35. The swinging of the chute to the right, together with the blasts of air from the forked end of the pipe 2I3, ejects the molded preform from the machine; and the swinging of the long arm I I1 and the cam "-3 also opens the hinged door 3I and permits a charge of molding compound to flow from the hopper 29 down the mold. Practically instantly the Fig. 4.

Although the invention has been set forth as embodied in a particular machine, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular-machine which has been shown and described.

-Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

a l. A machine of the class described, having in 2,886,891- plunger begins another descentand the parts pass once more through the positions shown in.

a slide, means for causing the slide to enter the receptacle to receive a charge-of molding compound and to carry out said charge and supply it to the chute, and means controlled by the relative movement of reciprocation of the mold and plunger for operating the slide and for swinging the chute.

combination 'a mold member, a cooperating plunger member, one of said members being heated, means for reciprocating the plunger; said plunger having a head, a swinging cam member yieldinsly urged at all times toward said head, a chute for feeding molding compound into the mold, said chute being rigid with the. cam member and adapted to be swung away from the mold as the plunger moves toward the mold and into feeding position as'the plunger moves away from. the mold, and means operated by the plunger for delivering a measured charge of molding compound to the chute.

2. A machine of the class described, having in combination a mold, a cooperating plunger, means for producing relative reciprocation of the mold and plunger to cause the plunger to enter and to be withdrawn from the mold, a pivoted,

downwardly extending chute movable back and forth from an inoperative position in which its freeend is out of regi ter with the mold cavity to an operative position in which its free end is in such register, means for supply to the upper part of the chute just before it reaches operative position a measured charge of molding compound, and means controlled by the move ment of reciprocation for actuating the chute and the means for supplying a measured charge tothechute.

8. A machine of the class described, having in combination a mold, a cooperating plunger, means for producing relative reciprocation of the mold and plunger to cause the plunger to enter and to be withdrawn from the mold, a pivoted, downwardly extending chute movable back and forth from an inoperative position in which its free end is out of register with the mold cavity to an operative position in which its free end is in such register, means for supplyingto the upper part of the chute just before it reaches operative position a measured charge of molding compound, means for pushing a molded" article out of the mold, said chute having at its free end a plate which elects from the machine a previously molded article during the last part of the movement of the chute to its operative position, and means controlled by the movement of reciprocation for actuating the chute, the means for supplying a measured charge to the chute andthe means for pushing a molded article out of the mold.

4. Amachine of the class described, having in combination a mold, a cooperating plunger.

means for producing relative reciprocation of the mold and plunger to cause the plunger to enter and be withdrawn from the mold, a receptacle for a supply of molding compound, a swinging 7 drum to deliver its charge to the feed chute for feeding molding compound to the mold,

adapted to receive a charge of molding compound and feed it into the mold, a hopper located above the feed member said hopper having a bottom yieldingly held in closed position but movable to open position to transfer a charge of molding compound to the feed member, a receptacle for holding a supply of molding compound, a slidefor removing a measured charge of molding compound from the receptacle and transferrlngit to the hopper while the bottom of the hopper is closed, means for producing relative reciprocation of the mold and plunger, and means controlled by said movement for reciprocating the slide, for opening the bottom of the hopper and for moving the feed member.

described, having in 6. A machine of the class combination a mold, a cooperating plunger adapted to compress a charge of molding commember said hopper having a bottom yieldingly held in closed position but movable to open D sitionto transfer a charge of molding compound to the feedmember, a receptacle for a supply of molding compound, a slide for removing a measured charge of molding compound from the receptacle and transferring it to the hopper while the bottom of the hopper is closed, means for producing relative movement of rwiprocation between the mold and plunger, and means controlled by said movement for reciprocating the 'measuring slide, for opening the bottom of the hopper,for moving the feed member and for operating theknockout pin.

'7. A machineof the class described, having in combination a mold adapted to receive a charge of molding compound, a cooperating plunger, means for producing relative reciprocation oi the mold and plunger to cause the plunger to compress a charge in the mold, a feed member adapted to receive a charge of molding compoimd and feed it into the mold, a measuring slide, a substantially horizontal drum for holding a supply of molding compound, means for rotating the drum, said drum being provided on its interior surface with vanes whereby molding compound is continually lifted from the lower side of the drum and dropped from the upper side, and means controlled by the relative movement of reciprocation for causing the measuringslidetomove into thedrumtobefllled with a charge of molding compound and out of the member FRANK S. GREGORY, JR. 

